Snowplow



g- 5, 1952 P. A. MAYNARD EI'AL SNOWPLOW 2 Sl-IEETSSHEET 1 Filed Jan. 10, 1946 Philip A. Maynard Emmet M. OReiZly Felix G Gnazzck g- 1952 P. A. MAYNARD ET AL SNOWPLOW Filed Jan. 10, 1946 Plulgo A.-Maynard Emmet 114. 02201115 Felix G Gruzuck.

3mm g g M DOL- Patented Aug. 5, 1952 I UNITE? o S OWP WQ Philip A.'Maynard and Emmet M. OReilly,

Paul, and Felix-G.- Gnauck, Birchwood-, White*- Bear, 'Minn.

ApplicationiJanuary Our invention relatesto an improvement'in a portable snow plow wherein it is desiredto'provide a means of removing snow from driveways, side walks and the like.

Various types of devices have previously been constructed for removing snow from side walks, drive ways and the like. Where such devices have been motor driven, they have usually been extremely heavy and difficult to maneuver as well as costly to manufacture. The present invention resid'esin the provision of a simple snowplow construction which is extremely effective for its intended purpose and which is simple to operate. I p

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of arotaryblade for forcing snow through a tangentially arranged discharge spout. The spout is mounted upon the rotor housing and is so arranged as to be adjustable so'as to discharge the snow in any desired'di'rection' A feature of thepresent invention resides in the provision of a scoop shaped arrangement for guiding'the' snow to the rotor. This scoop is relatively wide at its forward end and taperstoward the inlet of the rotor so as to'guide means snow smoothly into the interior of the rotor.

A feature of the present invention resides in th mounting of'the apparatus on a pair of runners which are upturned at their forward ends so as to extendfover any irregularities of the surface being'cleared. The scoop'extends over these runners andis supported with its forward edge rearwardly of the upturned ends of the runners. The forward edge of the scoop is thus protected from injury by the'runners.

A further feature of'the present invention resides in the provision of a pair of supporting wheels'or rollers which are located at a substan-' tial distance from the forward end of the apparatus and which are slightly to the rear of the center of gravity of the apparatus. 'As a result theforward edge of the snow removing apparatus rests lightly upon the surface of the ground permitting the forward end to be elevated without difficulty'either to pass over an obstruction or to remove an upper layer of snow where the snow is of substantial depth, Because of this construction our snow, removing apparatus is capable of removing vertically spaced layers of snow where the-depth of the snow makes it difiicultto'force the apparatus through the entire depthof snow'atone'time. V

v A feature o the present. inventionllies'in the provision of runners whichjextend forwardlyvand rearwardly of 'thesupporting wheels and roll- 194e, SerialNo. 640.310, swarms. (01137-553) i ers, the runners being arranged so that one end or the other of the apparatus is at all times spaced from the surface ofthe ground. The ends of the runners, rearwardly of the supporting wheels limit the tilting of the apparatus to elevate the forward end thereof and form a' slide to assist in supportingthe apparatus when the front end thereof is elevated- .A further feature of'the present invention resides in the provision of a snow removing device having a scoop shaped element and a rotor forwardly of the supporting" wheels and having the operating motor, positioned rearwardly of the supporting wheels. As a result the weight of the apparatus is balanced to a considerable extent, making the apparatus easy to manipulate.

An added feature'of the present invention lies in the provision of spaced handles which extend upwardly and rearwardly'from the rear end of the apparatus by means of which the device may be operated. The handles permit either end of the apparatus to be elevated and permit both ends of the apparatus to be held off the surface of the ground while moving the device over cleared ground. v I

These and other objects and novel features of our invention will be more clearly andfully set forth in the following specificationand claims.

In the drawings forming a part of our specification:

Figure l is a perspective view of our snow plow showing the construction thereof.

Figure 2 is a sectional view centrally through the snow removing apparatus shown in Figure l to better illustrat the construction thereof.

Figure 3 is apers'pective view of the rotor detached from the remaining structure.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the end of a spout showing the adjustable gate or deflector which is of assistance in fdirectingthe flow of snow from the spout. Y I

The snow removing apparatus A is driven by any suitable means such as the motor B. The motor B may be an electric motor or may be a small gasoline motor of a type commonly used on power lawn mowers, farm washing machines and the like. When the electric motor B is used, it is either connected to a source of power supply by means of a long extension cord, or may be operated by afstorage battery carried on the frame of the apparatusjiniany suitable location.

The apparatus 'A'co'm'prises a pair of elongated frame members or skids lll'which'are connected; in proper spaced'felatidnlby'transverse connecting'memberssuch as Hand l2. The skids ID are w 3 preferably provided with metal runners l3. The rear ends of the skids are curved at [4 and the runners l 3 are curved upwardly at their rear ends I5 to follow the contour of the skids. The forward ends of the runners l3 extend beyond the forward ends [6 of the skids I0 and are curved upwardly as indicated at I! so as to guide the forward endof the apparatus over any surface projections onythe walk or drive way being cleared.

A substantially rectangular frame mounted transversely of the skids ill to extend at substantially right angles thereto. This rectangular frame I9 is provided with a circular aperture 20 therein to accommodate theforward end of the hollow cylindrical rotor casing 2|.

The frame [9 is split at 22 and is held together by means of a clamping bolt 23 or other suitable means. The cylindrical housing 2| fits snugly within the aperture so that by tightening the clamping bolt 23 the housing 2 I will be held from movement relative to the'frame. When it is desired toadjust the position of the housing 21 and the, discharge spout connected thereto, as will be later described,v the bolt 23 may be loosened to permit rotation of the housing 2|. If desired the bolt 23 may be a thumb screw or may be equipped with an enlarged head so that it may be rotated without the use of tools.

A scoop shaped snow collecting element 24 which extends "forwardly from the rectangular frame I!) is secured at its rear en'dto this frame. The element 24is arcuated at its rear edge 25 to fit the .a'rcuation of the forward edge of the cylindrical casing or housing. 2|. The forward edge of thesnow collecting scoop element terminates in'f'a horizontally. extending cutting edge 26 andupwardly extending, flanges Hand 29 connected thereto; In other words the forward edge of the snow colleetingel'ement 24 is troughshaped with a flat horizontal edge'and, connected vertical side edges while'the rear end of this element'isarcuate; Deflector plates 30 and 33 are connected to the flanges 21 and 219 to extend vertically therefrom. These deflector platesextend into contact with the .frame l' so as to guide snow toward the aperture 20 therein.

The rotor housing j comprises the 7 cylindrical housing shell 2| and the tapered spout 32' .extending with one side 33' substantially tangentto thev housing. The tapered spout 32 is open at both ends and provides a discharge through which snow may be forced by the rotor. The discharge end" of the. spout 32 is providedv with a. gate or-defl-ector which may] cut down the size of the discharge opening and assist in directing the snow forced'through 'the'discharge.

A pair of arcuated flanges3 4 extend outwardly from the end of the spout 32' and are bent back. upon themselves to form terminal flanges 35in spaced relation to the flanges 34. A channel 36 is formed between the flanges 34 and 35 to accommodate the 'slidable gate 31. v Thus the. gate or deflector 3'1. mayslide to, more'or less cover the opening of the spout 32. 4

A slot 33 is provided between the sides. of the deflector 31 and a'threaded; stud or b0lt 4'0 is anchored withrespectto the spout and extendsthrough the slot .39. A wing nut 41 is provided on the stud by means of which the deflector 7 ma e e d-in" afiiu t d p it o Apair of" bearingsffl" and 413 are mounted in alignment upon the transverse members. ll and ll. These bearings'support 9;. 7O atabl,e shaft 44,. The shaft-1.44 xtends into the rear, end of" the.

4 cylindrical housing 21 to support the rotor which is designated generally by the letter C.

The rotor C is constructed as best illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. A disc 45 is provided with a central hub or bushing 46 at its axis, the hub 46 extending at right angles to the disc 45 and located concentric therewith. A ring 47 is provided at the forward end of the rotor in parallel relationship to the disc 45. The opening 49 in the ring 41 defines the inlet opening of the rotor through which the snow must pass. A series of angular spaced blades or vanes 50 connect the disc 45 and the ring 41 and act to force the snow through the spout 32 upon rotation of the rotor.

The vanes or blades 50 are provided in preferred form with an attaching flange 5| which provides a simple means of attaching the vanes to the disc 45 to extend radially relative to the hub 45. The vanes 50 extend into engagement with the hub 45 and are preferably secured thereto. This hub ifi is short relative to the distance between the disc 45 and the ring 4'! and each blade 50 is angled from the forward end of the hub to the inner diameter of the ring 47. In other words, the vanes or blades are of a length substantially equal to that of the hub at their inner extremities and extend the full distance between the disc 45 and the ring 4'! at their outer extremities. The forward ends of the blades are provided with attaching flanges 52 which are secured to the rear surface of the ring '41 .in any suitable manner.

The hub 46 is secured to the shaft 44 to rotate in unison therewith. A pulley 53 is mounted upon the shaft 44 to rotate in unison therewith. The motor B rests upon a cross brace or support 54 which extends between the upstanding sides 55 at the rear end of the skids I0. These sides 55 rest upon the upper surface of the skids H) or are secured inwardly thereof as indicated at 56, and are attached securely to the. skids. A belt 51 connects a pul1ey59 on the motor shaft to the pulley 53 so that the motor Bmay serve to drivethe shaft 44..

A shaft BI is. supported by the-skids l0 or by the sides 55and extends transversely with respectthereto. Wheels 62 are mounted .on. the outer ends of, the shaft 6! to, act as a support for the frame ofthe apparatus. The wheels 62 extend below the level of the runners l3. so. that oneendfof, these runners is atall .times oiithe ground. As. aresul't the forward end of the apparatus may be tilted. upwardly son as to remove. an upperlayer of snow whenthe snow isextreme- 1y deep, the rear ends 15- of therunners I3ilimiting theuupward pivotal movement of the. front of the'apparatus. These wheels v.62 also? serve as a meansof supporting'the. apparatus. with both ends of the runners 1.3. elevated when the apparatus is being transported over ground which has been cleared of snow. The motor B: and certain of; the frame elements are positioned rearwardly of the wheel axle shaft 6|, while the rotor and -scoop, extend. forwardly thereof. The wheels, are .mounted slightly to the rear of the center of gravity sothat the apparatus may be easily tilted,, but the. forward end thereof will normally bein contact with the ground. I

A pair. of spaced handles .63are secured to the sides 55 to extend; upwardly and rearwardly therefrom. The handles 63- preferably terminate incurved hand engaging ends 64. by meansv of which thea'pparatus may .beeasily 'manipurated. I The operation. of ourfapparatus' "is believed obvious from the description. The spout 32 is set to the desired angle and the scoop 24 is forced into the snow, the snow entering the interior of the rotor C. The snow is forced by the rotor, which is travelling at a high rate of speed, through the spout 32 which forces the snow a considerable distance from the snow clearing apparatus. In view of the fact that the snow is thrown a considerable distance, our apparatus is useful for clearing relatively large areas without the necessity of handling the snow more than once. The deflector 37 may be adjusted to prevent the spread of snow over too large an area when it is desired, and the position of the spout may be adjusted from time to time when it is desired to throw the snow in a different direction. If the apparatus is to be used at a considerable distance from a source of electric current supply. a simple gasolinemotor or the like may be used in place of the electric motor illustrated.

In accordance with the patent statutes, we have described the principles of construction and operation of our portable snow plow, and while we have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, we desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We claim:

1. A snow clearing apparatus comprising a frame, a scoop mounted atthe forward end of said frame, a rotor casing having a cylindrical end and mounted adjacent said scoop to receive snow therefrom, a rotor mounted within said rotor casing, a support on said'frame having a cylindrical aperture therein for supporting the cylindrical end of said casing, a spout on said casing, said casing being rotatably adjustable on said'frame, and means for holding said casing from rotary movement.

2. A snow clearing apparatus comprising a frame, a scoop mounted at the forward end of said frame, an upstanding frame member forming'a'part of said frame and having an aperture therethrough, said scoop terminating adjacent said aperture to guide snow therethrough, a cylindrical rotor casing extending into said aperture, a spout on'said casing, and means on said upstanding frame portion for holding said casing from rotary movement relative thereto.

3. A snow plow comprising an elongated frame, a scoop mounted at the forward end of said frame having an arcuate rear end thereupon, an upstanding frame member forming a part of said frame and having an aperture therethrough, said arcuate end of said scoop being secured to said upstanding frame member adjacent said aperture to guide snow through said aperture, a rotor casing comprising a cylindrical shell having an open end extending into said aperture, adjustable means on said frame for selectively holding said casing from rotation relative to said upstanding flange member, a spout on said cylindrical housing, a rotor within said housing, and means for rotating said rotor.

4. A snow clearing apparatus comprising a frame, a scoop mountedat the forward end of said frame, a rotor mounted on said frame rearwardly of said scoop, a rotor housing encircling said rotor, said frame having an aperture therein for accommodating said rotor housing, and clamping means forming a part of the frame encircling said aperture.

PHILIP A. MAYNARD. EMMET M. OREILLY. FELIX G. GNAUCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 395,548 Corbett Jan. 1, 1889 1,121,810 Determann Dec. 22, 1914 1,577,561 Chiles Mar. 23, 1926 1,703,786 Sicard Feb. 26, 1929 1,834,176 Peterson Dec. 1, 1931 1,837,087 Wandscheer Dec. 15, 1931 2,116,945 Hitchens May 10, 1938 2,152,840 Drake Apr. 4, 1939 2,315,007 Morse et al. i Mar. 30, 1943 2,375,965 Turtle May 15, 1945 2,479,347 Gotham Aug. 16, 1949 

